Shingle gauge



*4. viii Sept. 24, 1957 W. NEUBER SHINGLE GAUGE Filed Aug. 51, 1954 Walter Neuber IN V EN TOR.

Aumqs United States Patent SHINGLE GAUGE Walter Nenber, Vermilion, Ohio Application August 31, 1954, Serial No. 453,264

1 Claim. (Cl. 33188) The present invention relates to a gauge for laying shingles so that the distances between the exposed edges of adjacent rows of shingles are equal to one another.

The basic object of the invention is in the provision of a device for gauging the distance between shingle edges when laying rows of shingles in a simple, convenient and accurate manner.

A further object of the invention, ancillary to the primary object, is in the provision of a shingle distance gauging device which may be conveniently carried by a hammer without interfering with the use of the hammer during the laying of the layers or rows of shingles which the device is adapted to gauge the distance between.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the gauge constituting the invention attached to a hammer and gauging the distance between the exposed edges of adjacent layers of shingles;

Figure 2 is a side view of a portion of the hammer showing the attachment of the gauge thereto; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the gauge.

In the drawings is shown a conventional roof 6 to which rows of asphalt shingles or the like 8 are being applied.

In the ordinary application of these shingles, they come in elongated strips which are tacked to the roof surface adjacent one edge of the strip, the other edge of the strip overlying the attached edge of the next lower adjacent strip. Heretofore, it has been customary to gauge the distance between the exposed edges of adjacent rows of shingles by eye as the shingle strips are laid on the roof to give a symmetrical appearance to the rows of shingles on the roof. The inaccuracies of such measurement are obvious.

Accordingly, with the present invention, a gauge designated in its entirety by the numeral 10 is provided for gauging the distance between the exposed edges of adjacent rows of shingles which will accurately and positively maintain the spacing between these exposed edges the same distance apart.

The gauge 10 is comprised of an elongated plate-like body member 12 of suitable light weightmaterial which is tapered from a larger end 14 to a smaller end 16. The smaller end 16 is provided with a short flange 18 extending perpendicularly therefrom while the larger end 14 is provided with an elongated flange 20 extending per pendicularly therefrom, the flanges 18 and 20 extending in the same direction.

The distance between the outer edge of the short flange 18 and the inner edge of the end of the long flange 20 is equal to the conventional or desired spacing between the exposed edges of adjacent rows of shingles. Conventionally, this distance is 5".

Means is provided for fastening the gauge 10 to a hammer 22 so that the same may be utilized along with the hammer, after tacking the shingle strips in place with the hammer, the hammer being turned sideways and the gauge measuring the desired distance between the exposed edges of adjacent rows of shingles.

In considering the use of the gauge, the longer flange 20 may be considered the heel of the gauge, and the shorter flange 18 may be considered the toe of the gauge.

To mount the gauge on the hammer, the back face of the plate-like body 12 is disposed parallel to the hammer handle with the tapered end portion of the gauge being disposed adjacent the side of the hammer head 24. Leather thong, resilient band or other suitable fastening means 26 is provided for wrapping around the head 24 of the hammer and a portion of the handle thereof to secure the toe end of the gauge to the side of the hammer. A similar member 28 is provided along the body portion 12 of the gauge for the heel end 20 of the gauge to secure this portion of the gauge to the handle of the hammer 22. Consequently, no interference with the ordinary use of the hammer is encountered in the use of the device, and the device will accurately gauge the distance between exposed edges of adjacent rows of shingles and eliminates the necessity for the usual mental calculation involved in this procedure.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A device for gauging the distance between shingle edges when laying shingles comprising an elongated plate-like body having flanges extending from the opposite ends and one side thereof for resting on shingles to measure the distance between rows of shingles as they are laid, flexible means for wrapping around said plate-like body and the head and handle of a hammer to fasten said body to a hammer parallel to a hammer handle, said flanges being permanently spaced apart in accordance with the spacing between exposed edges of adjacent rows of shingles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 693,054 Nelson Feb. 11, 1902 806,144 Hopkins Dec. 5, 1905 920,941 Filkin May 11, 1909 2,004,839 Steien June 11, 193.5 

